Argyranthemum plant named ‘Bonmadre’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Argyranthemum  plant named ‘Bonmadre’, characterized by its single-type deep red-purple colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact and upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Argyranthemum×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Bonmadre’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant botanically known as Argyranthemum×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Bonmadre’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Yellow Rock, New South Wales, Australia during June 2005. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Argyranthemum cultivars that are freely flowering with unique flower coloration and a freely branching, compact-upright growth habit.

The new Argyranthemum cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Argyranthemum×hybrida breeding selection designated 05-5, not patented, characterized by its single-type dark pink-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar was a bulk of pollen collected from five proprietary Argyranthemum×hybrida breeding selections designated 04-131, 04-133, 05-128, 05-130, and 05-132, not patented, characterized by single and double flower types having colors in dark shades of red and deep pink, medium green-colored foliage, moderately vigorous, and compact, upright growth habits. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during August 2006 in a controlled environment at Yellow Rock, New South Wales, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since August 2006 at Yellow Rock, New South Wales, Australia and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Bonmadre’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant:

-   -   1. Single-type deep red-purple colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact and upright-mounded growth         habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color, flower size, and floriferousness. Plants of the new cultivar have a deep red flower color that is distinctly different from any male parent. In addition, the new cultivar has larger flowers and more flowers per plant than any male parent.

Of the many commercially available Argyranthemum cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Daisy Crazy Meteor Red Star ‘Supa742’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,435. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Supa742’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are earlier to flower than plants         of ‘Supa742’. Plants of ‘Bonmadre’ were at first flower at least         one week prior to plants of ‘Supa742’.     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller leaves, as measured         by leaf length and width, than plants of ‘Supa742’. In a         comparison trial, plants of ‘Supa742’ had an average leaf length         of 8.8 cm and average leaf width of 5.8 cm compared with an         average leaf length of 6.4 cm and average leaf width of 4.3 cm         for plants of ‘Bonmadre’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Bonmadre’. The plants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 7 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Bonmadre’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Bonmadre’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in May 2009 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch pots for 7 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Argyranthemum×hybrida cultivar Bonmadre. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Argyranthemum×hybrida breeding             selection designated 05-5, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Bulk of pollen collected from five proprietary             Argyranthemum ×hybrida breeding selections designated             04-131, 04-133, 05-128, 05-130, and 05-132, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 9 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             compact, and upright- mounded.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 20.5 cm. Width: Approximately 20.8 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Quantity of lateral             branches per plant: Approximately 6.         -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length of main stem to base of             peduncle: Approximately 13.7 cm. Diameter at central             internode: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central             internode: Approximately 8.3 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of             young stem: Glaucous, 144B. Color of mature stem: Glaucous,             144B with woody base of 199B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main stem:             Approximately 15. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem; leaf blade obtuse angle             to stem with age. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Parted. Apex:             Acute, cuspidate. Base: Attenuate, decurrent. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately             6.4 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 4.3 cm. Texture             of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young and mature             foliage: Glaucous, 137A with venation of 146D to             indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of young and             mature foliage: 137C with venation of 146D to             indistinguishable. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Bonmadre’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 13 to 14 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.             Shape: Round. Aspect: Facing upward and outward.             Arrangement: Terminal, positioned above the foliage. Disc             and ray florets develop acropetally on a capitulum. Quantity             per plant: Approximately 13. Diameter: Approximately 3.4 cm.             Fragrance: Pungent.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, pliable. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 5.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Texture: Glabrous. Color: Glaucous, 144A.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 6 to 7 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 3.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Diameter:             Approximately 7.0 mm. Color: 155C with 61C at apex.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 21.             Arrangement: Imbricate in two whorls. Aspect: Slightly             convex, tuning downward with age. Shape: Ligulate. Margin:             Entire. Apex: Emarginate with 3 tips. Base: Attenuate, fused             to form a tube. Length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Width:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.             Texture of lower surface: Glabrous, ribbed. Color of upper             surface when first open: More red than 59A. Color of lower             surface when first open: Closest to 71B. Color of upper             surface when fully open: Slightly darker than 61A, becoming             closer to 71A with development. Color of lower surface when             fully open: Closest to 71B, becoming closer to 75A with             development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 114.             Arrangement: Massed in center of inflorescence. Shape:             Tubular with 5 lobes. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base:             Truncate. Length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Diameter at apex:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous with glandular pubescence on lower             half. Gland color: Colorless. Color when fully open: 145D             with 6B at lobes.         -   Disc.—Diameter: Approximately 1.3 cm. Depth: Approximately             8.0 mm.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Cone. Height: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Diameter at base: Approximately 3.0 mm. Color: 145B.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 22.             Arrangement: Imbricate, in several whorls. Shape:             Lanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.             Length: Approximately 3.5 mm. Width: Approximately 2.5 mm.             Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous, papery along             edges. Color of upper surface: 143A in center with             transparent margins of N199B. Color of lower surface:             Closest to 143C in center with transparent margins of N199B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Stamen length:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther shape: Linear. Anther length:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 13B. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: 13A. Gynoecium: Present on ray and             disc florets. Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length:             Approximately 6.0 mm. Stigma shape: Two-parted. Stigma             length: Less than 1 mm. Stigma color: 13B. Style length:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Style color: 145D, transparent. Ovary             length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary color: 145D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Argyranthemum has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant named ‘Bonmadre’, substantially as herein shown and described. 